Commissioner Credits Voters For Passing Sales Tax Extension

Crawford County Presiding Commissioner said he was “pleased” with the results of the sales tax measure that passed in the April 5 election.

By more than a 2-to-1 margin, voters approved a one-half of 1% sales tax to go along with a permanent repeal of the personal property and real estate taxes that go to the county.

Sanders was commissioner six years ago when the county was dealt back-to-back defeats on sales tax increase attempts.

The current rate was first passed by voters in April 2018, with 55% approving.

Its passage will avoid a Dec. 31, 2023 sunset.

“It’s something that needed to be done,” said Sanders, who is running for reelection this August against challengers Todd Hickey and Steve Black. 

The presiding commissioner said the county “has held true to what we said four years ago.”

The sales tax increase helped the county wipe out its debt, balance its budget, establish a salary schedule, spur investment, build a reserve and get a building for the coroner.

“I look forward to seeing what we can do in the future,” Sanders said. 

He warned that county officials — present and future — must stay true to their fiscal discipline “and not get frivolous.”

“Like any budget, you can overspend,” he said. “On this commission, we try to put thought into what we do.”

Sanders said when he encountered voters over the last four years, he tried to stress why the sales tax increase was a good trade-off.

“Why wouldn’t people want that? Personal property and real estate (for the county) is being paid by people coming in. It’s a win-win,” he said.

While the personal property and real estate taxes may have caused some confusion — taxes must still be paid to schools, ambulance districts, etc., — Sanders said he thinks for the most part, people understood the distinction.

“I’ve made it clear,” he said. “There were people who got their personal property bills who were upset, but after I told them what it was all about, I can’t remember a time when they were still complaining.”

Over the last four years, Sanders said he feels the county has done well at managing its budget because he hasn’t heard otherwise from voters.

“I haven’t heard anything about us misusing money,” he said. 

Sanders said after spending his first three terms constantly debating what would be cut, it’s been a relief having that taken off the table.

He recounted people advising them to go get a loan from the bank to cover shortages, which they rejected each time.

“We’ve turned it around,” he said. 

The county is in the process of renovating a building in Cuba for the coroner. Former coroner Paul Hutson allowed the county to use his funeral home facilities for nearly 30 years. Hutson announced midway through his final term that he wouldn’t be running again, forcing the county to find a spot.

Sanders said the building will cost a lot and they could cut corners, but he doesn’t want to see that.

“Why should we?” he asked. “Why not do it right the first time?”